🌿 New · Children’s Picture Book

Emotions are a garden. Let children see theirs bloom.

The Garden In Me

An imaginative journey into a child's inspiring inner garden—a creatively narrated and beautifully illustrated story that helps children explore, enjoy, understand, and appreciate their emotions.

★★★★★
5.0 rating from parents & educators
Ages 2–8 Perfect for bedtime, circle time or any time of the day Built on Social–Emotional Learning (SEL) principles trusted by educators Taps into children's natural curiosity and imagination
🌼 Get it now on Amazon Peek inside the book
The Garden In Me book cover
Helps kids say: “Today my garden feels sunny… and a little rainy too.”
A comforting way to talk about big feelings.
About the Book

The Nature of Emotions & the Beauty of Feelings

In The Garden In Me, children discover that their inner world is like a living garden. Some days are bright and sunny while others can be sullen and stormy. Yet the real beauty is...all of it belongs.

Through warm, whimsical storytelling and rich, charming illustrations, children learn that every feeling — happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, and everything in between — has a place in their garden. When we identify, label, and tend to our emotions, our inner garden grows stronger, healthier, and more beautiful.

Social–Emotional Learning

Supports SEL by giving children language and imagery to identify, understand, and express their emotions in healthy ways.

A Cozy Read-Aloud

Perfect for bedtime, classroom circles, counseling sessions, or anytime a child needs emotional reassurance and connection.

Book Details
New release
  • Title: The Garden In Me
  • Author: Nalina Siva
  • Illustrator: Rajane Ganth
  • Format: Full-color picture book (large print)
  • Length: 28 pages
  • Ideal Ages: 2–8
  • Great for: Homes, classrooms, therapy & school counseling

A beautiful addition to any library that values emotionally literate stories.

Start Your Child’s Emotional Journey Now See sample pages
Peek Inside

Take a joyful stroll through the pages

Flip through a few spreads from The Garden In Me and see how gently it speaks to little hearts with big feelings.

3 interior spreads

Final print colors may vary slightly from on-screen preview, but the feelings are just as bright.

What Readers Are Saying

Loved by Parents, Grandparents & Educators

Early readers are connecting deeply with The Garden In Me and using it to help children talk about feelings in a warm, natural way.

“A beautiful way to help children understand and express their feelings.”

— Grandparent

“My kids love this book—it made learning about emotions fun and natural.”

— Parent of 2- and 3-year-olds

“This belongs in every home and school library.”

— Educator
In the Community

Real Moments with Readers

From story times to local spaces, The Garden In Me is connecting with children, families, and educators.

Children gathered outdoors for a reading event featuring The Garden In Me
Story Time in Action - an event by Together Moms Supporting Moms

Sharing the book with children in a joyful outdoor reading event.

Author Nalina Siva at a display table with The Garden In Me
Meeting Families in Person - One Book Two Book Festival by Iowa City of Literature

Connecting with readers through book displays, events, and conversations.

The Garden In Me displayed in a library or bookstore setting
Seen in Local Spaces - display at Urbandale Library

The book is finding its place in community spaces where children discover stories.

The Garden In Me displayed at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden shop
At the Botanical Garden Shop

Featured at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden shop, a beautiful local space that reflects the heart of the book.

The Garden In Me displayed in a Raygun store
Now Available In Stores

Proudly stocked at Raygun and various local bookstores

The Garden In Me is proudly stocked in 5 Raygun locations across Iowa.

Seeing the book on shelves in beloved local stores is a meaningful milestone—and another way families can discover it in person.

Recognition

Award Recognition

Children's Book International 2026 Finalist award badge

Finalist — Children’s Book International 2026

For Parents, Teachers & Counselors

A Gentle Tool for Little Hearts with Big Feelings

Children often struggle to say how they feel. The Garden In Me gives you a playful shared language — using the metaphor of a garden — to explore their inner world together.

Conversation Starter

Ask questions like, “What does your garden feel like today?” or “Did any storm clouds show up?” Children open up more easily through story and picture.

Classroom & Group Use

Ideal for circle time, SEL lessons, or small groups. Invite each child to draw their own “garden” after reading and share what’s growing there.

Calming Ritual

Turn the book into a nightly check-in: “What bloomed today? What needs a little extra care?” The rhythm of the story helps children feel safe and seen.

For Parents, Teachers & Caregivers

Suggested Follow-Up Activities

Simple, playful ideas to expand the book at home or in a classroom, helping children explore emotions through imagination, movement, conversation, and nature.

  • Draw your own garden of emotions.
    Invite children to draw a garden that represents how they feel today.
  • Create “garden” stories about those emotions.
    “Garden” can become a beach, ocean, forest, playground—any place their imagination loves.
  • Identify and label emotions.
    Talk about what actions or events cause them—what makes you feel happy, sad, mad, loved, nervous, etc.
  • Make garden puppets.
    Happy Flower, Sad Tree, Mad Sun, Love Bird — then act out feelings and responses together.
  • Try fun “garden” exercises / yoga poses.
    Stretch like a butterfly, sway like a tree, bloom like a flower, blow like the wind (deep breaths), fly like a bird, hop like a bunny.
  • Take a stroll in a real garden.
    Explore sights, sounds, and smells. Ask: “How does this make you feel?”
  • Talk about colors and the emotions they evoke/represent.
    Let children choose colors that match their feelings, then explain why.
  • Practice emotion regulation tools.
    Deep breathing, counting up or down, taking a break, asking for help, or choosing calming activities such as reading, listening to music and bathtime.
Free Printables

Coloring Pages

Download, print, and enjoy these coloring pages inspired by The Garden In Me.

Coloring Page 1 Download PDF
Coloring Page 2 Download PDF
Coloring Page 3 Download PDF
Coloring Page 4 Download PDF
Coloring Page 5 Download PDF
Coloring Page 6 Download PDF
For personal and classroom use only. Not for resale.
Author Nalina Siva

“Every child carries a garden of feelings inside them.
My hope is to help them see its beauty.”

– Nalina Siva

About the Author

Meet Nalina Siva

Nalina Siva is a debut children’s book author who is a mother at heart and an educator by profession. Besides loving and nurturing her own two children, she has had the joy and privilege of working with children of all ages (2–18) across the globe (the United States, Australia, and Malaysia). Inspired by the emotional worlds of children around her, she set out to create a book that speaks to their inner selves with warmth, respect, and wonder.

The Garden In Me is Nalina's true passion project—an alchemy of her love for gardening, creative writing, and most of all, emotional well-being in children and adults alike. The book grew from a heartfelt question: how can we help children see their emotions not as problems to fix, but as living, changing parts of a beautiful inner landscape? Her answer is this book — an invitation to sit beside a child and explore that landscape together, one feeling at a time.

Nalina is especially passionate about partnering with parents, teachers, therapists, and school counselors who are nurturing children’s emotional well-being all over the world.

Nalina currently lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, with her husband (Siva). Her daughter (Neevetha) and son (Shuvethan) have flown the nest and spreading wings on their own.

Contact & Events

Invite The Garden Into Your Community

For school visits, library readings, bulk orders, collaborations, or interview requests, you can reach Nalina directly.

📧 nalinasiva@gmail.com

Nalina is happy to connect with teachers, librarians, mental health professionals, and parents who are passionate about nurturing children’s emotional gardens.

🌿 Order “The Garden In Me” on Amazon today